Manatees
The "Cows of the Ocean"

Manatees are large docile affectionate animals. They have flattened toenails, a prehensile upper lip, and large digestive tract. They are vegetarians and live on grass beds as their main source of food.

These mammals, also known as sea cows, typically surface every twenty minutes for air. In keeping with their nickname a male manatee is called a bull. A female is known as a cow and a baby manatee is a calf.

Manatees enjoy warm water. If the water becomes too cold they will move up river. The problem with this is that there is less food for them to eat. Also if the water becomes to cold their energy level decreases preventing them from going to the Gulf for food. Power plants which warm the waters near them are a popular place for manatees to live.

Mantees have no natural predators. They are an endangered species due to man's involvement. Red tides cause respiratory infection that has ended in many manatee deaths. Two contributing factors in red tides are an increase in water temperature and water pollution. Boats also cause manatees a lot of harm. This happens when a boat travels through an area with grass beds the boat churns up everything destroying the grass beds. Boat propellers are also a danger because they slice up the manatee's hide and cause infections. In addition when a manatee collides with a boat it can fracture their ribs and possibly puncture a lung.

Boater education and manatee slow zones have greatly helped the manatee's survival. What a boater should do in manatee areas is to watch for the posted speed zone and sanctuary signs, and obey them. Using a pole, paddle, or trolling motor when in a grass bed area will help to keep them intact.